Chicken coop



R. C. AYLOR CHICKEN COOP sept. 22, 1942.

Filed April 23. 1941 Patented Sept. 22, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to chicken coops and more particularly to the type of coops used for the transportation of chickens to market, which are subjected to rough handling, piled one upon the other in stacks, and otherwise sub-ject tu severe strains.

An object of the present invention is to provide a coop of the type indicated of an improved structure greatly increasing the strength and stacking ability of the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved structure eliminating structural weaknesses inherent in wooden frame members.

Other objects will more particularly appear in the course of the following detailed description.

One sheet of drawings accompanies this speciiication as part thereof in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout.

In the drawing- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved coop,

Figure 2 is a side elevation partly broken away to show details of the door structure,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary transverse cross section taken on line 3--3 of Figure 2.

In accordance with the present invention the coop is formed from a plurality of frame members, the bottom being of substantially rectangular shape and having side frame members I associated with transverse end frame members 2, to which bottom frame members are secured bottom boards 3.

The top is formed with a plurality of parallel spaced frame members 4 of which the outer constitute the top side frame members of the coop, and these side and intermediate frame members are rigidly associated at each end with end top frame members 5--5 positioned beneath and spaced inwardly from the ends of the rst mentioned frame members 4 to which they are rigidly secured by rivets 6.

Filler rods 'I are positioned vertically and in spaced relationship to ll the side and end panels of the coop and separate the top frame members 4-5 from the bottom, and the top frame members are secured in this spaced relationship my means of rods 8 at each corner which pass through the bottom frame members as well as the side and end frame members and are riveted at each end.

Transverse filler rods II are arranged parallel with the top end frame members 5 to complete the top, but these top iller rods II are preferably omitted between two of the intermediate frame members for a limited space to provide a doorway for the coop, one end of which doorway is dened by a shock absorbing member I9 extending transversely at the top of the coop parallel with the end frame members and is rigidly connected to each of the top side frame members as well as the intermediate top frame members. Above this member I9 and spaced from it a ller rod extends from side to side of the coop and forms a compression member cooperating with member I9 to resist downward thrust on the top.

A door I4 of less width than the door opening is pivotally mounted'upon a ller rod I3 at one end and its free end is adapted to seat on the shock absorbing member I9 so that the top face of the door I4 is flush with the top faces of the intermediate frame members 4. As is customary a compression spring I5 is positioned on the pivot rod I3 between one edge of the door and the adjacent frame member to force the door toward the opposite frame member, which latter is provided near the free end of the door with an inwardly projecting pin I1 adapted to seat in a hole I6 bored in the edge of the door to secure the door in closed position.

By reason of the structure thus described it will be apparent that the top end frame members 5 being seated inwardly from the ends of the top, side and intermediate frame members, the end panels of the coop will incline inwardly and thus form with the bottom and top frame members a truss-like structure which in association with the intermediate strain absorbing member I9 will eiectively absorb the very substantial weights placed on the top of the coop without displacement of the structural elements.

It will be further be noted that by reason of the structure as described the top end frame members are positioned directly under the side end frame members thus eliminating the mortising or other joining of these elements and by spacing these end top frame members inwardly the tendency to split the ends of the frame members by the riveting operation is greatly reduced.

The free end of the door seating as it does directly on top of the strain absorbing member I9 eliminates the necessity for rabbeting this free end of the door and at the same time transmits any vertical weight on the door directly to the truss frame structure of the coop.

Modifications in the precise arrangement and y. construction of the parts will readily suggest Having thus fully described my invention1 what I claim is:

1. Chicken coop comprising a rectangular bottom frame with floor boards secured thereto, and a top comprising spaced parallel longitudinal side and intermediate frame members each substantially the length of the bottom frame,- and transverse parallel end members substantially the length of the width of said bottom frame, said longitudinal members being secured to said end members and supported thereby, filler rods supporting the peripheral top frame members from the bottom frame, iiller rods bridging the spaces between the longitudinal top frame members passing through said intermediate members and terminating in said side members, groups of other ller rods at an intermediate region of said top bridging the spaces between said side and intermediate longitudinal frame members, terminating in said side and intermediate members leaving a doorway between said intermediate members, `and a rigid reinforcing strap transversely positioned beneath all of said longitudinal frame members and rigidly secured to the underside of each of them, intersecting said doorway near one end, being at a lower level than the plane of the top filler rods whereby it lcooperates with the adjacent top filler rods to form a ,truss construction of substantial depth, and a `door pivoted at the opposite end of said doorway having its free end resting upon said strap.

2. Chicken coop as claimed in claim l, said door being of uniform thickness and having its upper face substantially flush with the plane of said intermediate longitudinal frame members.

3. Chicken coop comprising a rectangular bot* tom frame with noor boards secured thereto, and

CII

a top comprising spaced parallel longitudinal side and intermediate frame members each substantially the length of the bottom frame, and transverse parallel end members substantially the length of the Width of Said bottom frame positioned inwardly of the ends of said longitudinal side and intermediate frame members whereby the ends of said longitudinal members project beyond said end members, said longitudinal members being secured to said end members and supported thereby, iiller rods supporting the peripheral top frame members from the bottom frame, filler rods bridging the spaces between the longitudinal top frame members passing through said intermediate members and termihating in said side members, groups of other ller rods, at an intermediate region of said top, bridging the spaces between said side and intermediate longitudinal frame members terminating in said side and intermediate members leaving a doorway between said intermediate members, Vand a rigid reinforcing strap transversely positioned beneath all of said longitudinal .frame members and rigidly secured to the underside of each of them, intersecting said doorway near one end, being at a lower level than the plane of the top ller rods whereby it cooperates with the adjacent top ller rods to form a truss construction of .substantial depth, anda door pivoted at the opposite end of said doorway having its free end resting uponsaidstrap.

4. Chicken coop as claimed in -claim 1, said bottom frame and top being united by corner struts anchored in said bottom and top frame members, inclined upwardly and inwardly in the planes of the sides of said coop.

,ROY C. AYLOR. 

